This is my journey through historical costuming (filled with epic fails and unexpected triumphs). It will be a review of my trials and errors of getting that perfect historical look and most importantly learning the secrets and little heard stories of the African American experience from early America to the 1960's.
No history is one color.
For me, history is truly a past of blended journey's.

An Historical Sew Fortnightly Challenge Completed!!! Yellow ...

I'm very bad with deadlines at this time in my life, especially if its not 'mandatory'.

Yet, I saw the challenge posted and kept saying to myself....

I have yellow fabric and trims ... 'just do it'!

So I did !

Alas, not for myself but for 'lil bit'.

I actually created two dresses.

Unfortunately, I only have pictures of the sewing process for one :(

The Challenge: Yellow

Fabric: 100% cotton

Pattern: Self drafted

Year: 1850's

Notions: Thread, 4 yellow buttons

How historically accurate is it? The 1850's dress is about 75%
historically correct. I have alot of difficulty with the sleeve
attachment and placement

Hours to complete: 2 hours

First worn: Just to try on

Total cost: $0 all from my stash

Hand pleated front bodice.

Larger hand pleated back bodice.

Hand gathered skirt waist.

Waist band for skirt, basically made like bias tape.

Pinned bias tape/waist band to skirt and top to bodice (matched seams of skirt to bodice).

Adjusted gathers to fit in each section of skirt and bias tape.

I use a darker color thread to gather so when the pieces are sewed together I can clip the end and pull it through and use the thread again.

Bodice, bias tape/waist band and skirt all attached.

Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of the sleeves and how I attached them. It was a trial and error. None of the extant pictures used gave clear pictures of the sleeves and how they were attached. I cut two rectangular pieces and created a sleeve and left enough excess fabric at the top to attach my bias tape along the complete bodice top (sleeve and bodice area). I then cut away the part of the dress in the arm pit so 'lil bits' arm could fit comfortably. The top hem as mentioned is finished with self made bias tape around the complete bodice top.

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To go with her dresses I also made 'lil bit' a petticoat from a bed skirt I purchased for $2 dollars at Goodwill. I initially cut about 24 inches of the skirt for her petticoat. I hand gathered it and sewed it up with grosgrain ribbon for the waist band.

But when I put the skirt on it seemed very thin and not full enough.

so dismal ehh!

So I cut another 24
inches of skirt material, sewed up the side seams, created a placket in
the back, regathered the edge and attached to some double wide bias
tape. I added a button and a buttonhole for closure.

The 2nd Dress........

The Challenge: Yellow

Fabric: linen blend

Pattern: self drafted

Year: 1650's Kirtle

Notions: grommets , thread, yellow ribbon, bias tape to hem edges

How historically accurate is it? 50% (lol)

Hours to complete: 2 hours

First worn: Just to try on

Total cost: $0 all from stash

Best picture of 'lil bit' and the only one not blurry... She moves fast!

About Me

My reading material was always history based. Those hours reading transported me to a different time. The logical side of me knows that not everyone had the beautiful gowns that I have seen and researched. Yet the feeling you get from creating something so beautiful and wearing it , is well worth the effort. Clothing fit better and lasted longer. Why? The materials were real and people cared about how they looked because it showed status.